Mixer

ABSTRACT

A mixer devised to rotate an agitating container which is internally provided with a rotary agitating blade along a circular orbit while controlling said agitating container from self-rotation in its circumferential direction when said rotary agitating blade is rotated inside said agitating container.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,809,322 Hirosawa May 7, 1974 [54] MIXER l,5l9,475 12/1924 Altorfer 1 259/72 X 1,688665 l0/l928 Smellie 259/72 [76] Inventor. Sh1ge0 l-llrosawa, 22-25 NlShlkOJlya 2,828.94; 4/1958 Paladino a alum 259/72 Z'ChOme, Ohtaku Tokyo, Japan 3,061,280 10/1962 Kraft et al 259/72 p 2 6/1964 Perrinjaquet t. X

[2]] Appl' N 248484 Primary Emminer-Granville Y. Custer, Jr.

. Attorney. Agent, or FirmArmstrong, Nikaido & [52] U.S. Cl 241/4617; 241/100, 241/199], Wegner [58] Field of Search 241/46 R, 46 B, 46.04,

241/4617 100, 1991, 1995 199.7, 277 A mixer devised to rotate an agitating container which 279;'259/72 81, is internally provided with a rotary agitating blade along a circular orbit while controlling said agitating [56] References Cited container from self-rotation in its circumferential di- UNITED STATES PATENTS rection when said rotary agitating blade is rotated in- J side said agitating container. 1,007.930 ll/l9ll Dehuff .11... 259/72 3.217561 11/1965 Allgaier et a1. ..259/72 X 8 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAY 1 1m sum 01 Of 10 PATENTEDIAY H914 3309.322

sum o2nr10 PATENTEDIIAY" 7 I974 saw on or 10 PA'TENTEDIAYA 7 I974 3L809l322 sum as or 10 FIG. 6

I 3 Am I 141 141 r m I Y Y mnmsnm 1 1914 3.809322 sum 07 HF 10 FIGS FIGJO minnow 1 m4 1809.322

sum 10 or 10 MIXER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mixer capable of pulverizing and agitating various kinds of materials.

Since a conventional mixer is such that a liquid and a material to be pulverized are mixed in a fixed container and are pulverized and agitated by a rotary agitating blade provided at the center'of the fixed container. the material inevitably flows near the internal surface of the container due to centrifugal force during rotation. Accordingly, the conventional mixer is disadvantageous because a greater part of the material flows away from the agitating blade, the agitation efficiency is low and the material cannot be uniformly agitated.

Furthermore, when a high viscosity material or a high specific gravity material is to be pulverized or agitated in the conventional mixer, the material is prone to stick to the internal wall of the agitating container, like a starch or paste, or to separate from the liquid due to the reasons described above; accordingly, the conventional mixer is defective due to the fact that it cannot pulverize and agitate the material in some cases.

The present invention provides a mixer from which said disadvantages are eliminated, and which can be produced at a low price due to its simple construction.

SUMMARY' A mixer comprised of a driving means with a rotary shaft such as, for example, a motor, a rotary agitating blade which is coupled to the end 'of said rotary shaft and rotates at a fixed position, a cylindrical agitating container which is open upward and into which said rotary agitating blade extends from the above is provided, a container driving means which rotates the agitating container along a fixed circular orbit while holding the container freely rotatable such as, for example, a mechanism which is arranged to mount said agitating container with a bearing to an eccentric shaft fixed at an eccentric position in reference to the axis of the driving shaft of a motor, and a self-rotation control means which controls self-rotation of said agitating container such as, for example, a holding mechanism which holds the agitating container at least in one position while absorbing the circular movement of the agitating container, wherein said self-rotation control means controls self-rotation of the agitating container which is rotated along a circular orbit by said container driving means while said rotary agitating blade does not come in contact with the internal wall of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present invention is illustrated in detail by the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical section of the front view illustrating an embodiment of a mixer according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional plan view as seen along line X X shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating circular movement of the mixer shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical section of the front view illustrating another embodiment of a mixer according to the present invention,

FIG. 5 is an isometric view illustrating another embodiment of a restraining mechanism as a self-rotation control means to be employed in a mixer according to the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a partial vertical section of the front view illustrating another embodiment of said self-rotation control means,

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional plan view as seen along line Y Y in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the movement of the mixer shown in FIG. 6,

FIGS. 9 and 10 are partial vertical sections of the front views illustrating another embodiment of said self-rotation control means,

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional plan view as seen along line Z Z in FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating the movement of a mixer shown in FIG. 10,

FIG.- 13 is a partial vertical view of the front view illustrating another embodiment of a container driving means to be employed in a mixer according to the present invention,

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment of a container'driving means to be employed in a mixer according to the present invention, and

FIG. 15 is a partial isometric view illustrating another embodiment of a self-rotation control means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of a mixer according to the presentinvention.

Agitating container 4 in which a material is pulverized and agitated is opened at its upper side and is closed at its lower side.

Upper motor 2 is fixed above said container, drive shaft 3 is extended from motor 2 downward into the agitating container and rotary agitating blade 1 is mounted to the end of drive shaft 3.

Said rotary agitating blade is employed for pulverizing and agitating a material put in container 4. The rotary agitating blade can be identical in shape to the agitating blade of the conventional mixer which has been generally employed.

Container 4 is provided with bearing section 5 which is open downward at the center of the external surface of the bottom and eccentric shaft 6 fixed to drive shaft 7a of the lower motor is mounted to said bearing section through bearing 12.

Said eccentric shaft is fixed to drive shaft 7a of lower motor 7 at a position deviated from the axis of the drive shaft. In this case, when lower motor 7 is driven, container 4 is rotated on a circular orbit in reference to drive shaft 7a as the center.

Supporting pole 11 is fixed beside container 4 and is connected to container 4 with holding arm 10, universal joint 9 and universal joint retainer 8.

Universal joint retainer 8 is attached to the external wall of container 4, and joint part 9a of universal joint 9 is fitted into said universal joint retainer 8 and shaft part 9b is slidably mounted in holding arm 10. Furthermore, holding arm 10 is attached to said supporting pole so that it can be turned in both horizontal and vertical directions.

The apparatus according to the present invention is constructed as described above. When the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is employed, rotary agitating blade 1 is rotated in container 4 by upper motor 2 and container 4 is rotated by eccentric shaft 6 connected to lower motor 7 along circular orbit A in reference to drive shaft 7a of lower motor 7 as the center. Container 4 is restrained by the mechanism comprised of universal joint retainer 8, universal joint 9, holding arm and supporting pole 11 while being controlled not to self-rotate; accordingly, container 4 is not rotated and is driven by eccentric shaft 6.

This movement of container is explained referring to FIG. 3 as follows. Eccentric shaft 6 passes along circular orbit A in reference to drive shaft 7a as the center through points A,, A A and A,. Since container 4 is moved by eccentric shaft 6, universal joint retainer 8 is moved to pass through points P P P and P, on circular orbit P with the same diameter as circular orbit A. Accordingly, universal joint 9 and holding arm 10 can be set so that the distance variation of universal joint retainer 8 from supporting pole 11 is offset by sliding of universal joint 9 and angular .variation of universal joint retainer is offset by rotation of holding arm 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an embodiment of a mixer according to the present invention, wherein container 4 is driven by eccentric shaft 6 during rotation. Eccentric shaft 6 is connected to drive shaft 7a of lower motor 7 with an angle of slight inclination and container 4 is supported through bearing 12 by bearing section 5 provided at the underside of the container so as to be in parallel with said eccentric shaft 6. When drive shaft 70 is rotated by said lower motor, said container is driven.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown another embodiment of a restraining mechanism as the self-rotation control means according to the present invention.

Container 4 is connected to four supporting poles 11 fixed beside the container with coil springs 13 respectively. These four coil springs control self-rotation of the container. If the container is arranged so that it is driven as described above, said restraining mechanism can be employed as the self-rotation control means.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown another embodiment of said self-rotation controlmeans.

The lower periphery of container 4 is provided with a plurality of consecutive gear teeth 41 in the circumferential direction as an engaging section. Furthermore, cylindrical frame 14 is provided so that it surrounds said gear teeth and container-4 and frame 14 form a dual ring. Frame 14 is provided with a plurality of corresponding gear teeth 141 of the same pitch as said gear teeth at its internal circumference. Said frame can be arranged so that the gear teeth on container 4 engage with the gear teeth on frame 14 to cause container 4 to rotate.

Accordingly, if the outside radius of container 4 (that is, the radius of the pitch circle formed by the gear teeth) is r, and the radius ofa circular orbit for the center of the container when container 4 is rotated is r;,, inside radius r of frame 14 (that is, the radius of a pitch circle formed by said gear teeth) can be set so as to satisfy the relationship given with equation r r, r;,. In this case, when container 4 is rotated, the periphery of container 4 always contacts the internal periphery .of frame 14 and therefore, container 4 is rotated while gear teeth 41 on the container engage with gear teeth 141 on frame 14. In other words, container 4 is rotated while it self rotates in the direction reverse to the direction of rotation A as indicated with arrow B in FIG. 8.

Number m of self-rotation during one circular movement of container 4 as described above is m r r,/r,. On the-other hand, since the rotary agitating blade is inserted into container 4 at all times, container 4 cannot be more than I, if the inside diameter is I, away from the home position when container 4 is rotated by 180. Inside diameter 1 of the container is almost equal to 2r if the external wall of the container is ignored. Accordingly, the following equation is given.

Accordingly, the container does not self-rotate once while it is rotated once and its self-rotation is controlled.

Said contacting part and mating contacting part can be made of an annular material with a large friction coefficient such as, for example, rubber without providing respectively the gear teeth at said frame and container and r can be set slightly smaller than (r r;,). In this case, the contacting part of said container is forced to contact the mating contacting part of the frame and therefore the container and the frame do not slip and the self-rotation of the container is controlled. If container 4 is arranged to be driven by inclining it, the internal periphery of said mating contacting part can be formed trapezoidally as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown another embodiment of said self-rotation control means.

The lower edge of container is coaxially provided with annular contacting part 42 which is projected downward-An annular mating contacting part 15 with a smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter of contacting part 42 is fixed arranged in the internal space of contacting part 42 so that annular mating contacting part 15 together with contacting part 42 form a dual ring. Furthermore, a plurality of gear teeth of the same pitch are provided respectively at the internal periphery of contacting part 42 and the external periphery of mating contacting part 15 in consecutive arrangement.

Mating contacting part 15 can be arranged to cause container 4 to be rotated so that the gear teeth of contacting part 42 mesh with the gear teeth of the mating contacting part 15, that is, in other words, these contacting parts do not slip. Accordingly, if the outside diameter of mating contacting part 15, that is, the radius of the pitch circle of the gear teeth of the mating contacting part is r,, the inside diameter of contacting part 42, that is, the radius of the pitch circle of the gear teeth of the contacting part is r and the radius of a cir' cular orbit through which the center of the container passes when the container is rotated is r these radii can be determined to satisfy the following equation.

"1 z r 2 "a In this case, when container 4 is rotated, the internal periphery of contacting part 42 contacts the external periphery of mating contacting part 15 and accordingly container 4 is rotated while the gear teeth of contacting part 42 mesh with the gear teeth of mating contacting part 15 in sequence. Container 4 is rotated while it selfrotates in the direction where it is rotated and, in this case, the number of self-rotations can be reduced far smaller than the number of rotations. Number n of selfrotations of container 4 per rotation can be expressed as follows:

however, r r r;, is obtained as described above and consequently the number of rotations is given below.

Since r;, is a comparatively small value, n l is obtained. Accordingly, the self-rotation of the container is controlled.

If container 4 is driven by inclining it, the mating contacting part can be inclined to the outside. Furthermore, said contacting part and contacting part can be made ofamaterial with a large friction coefficient such as, for example, rubber without providing the gear teeth at these contacting parts and can be arranged so that the internal periphery of said contacting part is forced to contact the external periphery of the mating contacting part when container 4 is rotated. In other words, outside radius r of the mating contacting part can be slightly larger than differencelr r between inside radius r of the contacting part and radius r;, of the circular orbit of the center of the container. In this case, when container 4 is rotated, the internal periphcry of the contacting part is forced to continuously contact the external periphery of the mating contacting part and thus container 4 passes along a circular orbit.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown another embodiment of a container driving means which causes container 4 to perform a circular movement.

Annular guide rail 16 is provided with guide groove 161 at its internal periphery, and disc 17 is formed so that its upper surface is spherical and its periphery is fitted into said guide groove so that the disc can be slid in the circumferential direction.

Drive shaft 18 ofa container driving mechanism such as, for example, a motor is fixed to the center of the underside of said disc 17 and cylindrical base 19 is mounted at an eccentric position on the upper surface. Container 4 is rotatably set in said cylindrical base. Furthermore, container 4 is supported by a selfrotation control means similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this arrangement, container 4 can be rotated along a circular orbit.

The mixer according to the present invention can be constructed as shown in FIG. 14. Disc type rotary plate 21 is fixed to drive shaft 7a of lower motor 7 and shaft 211 is provided at an eccentric position of the disc type rotary plate. Container shaft 43 is projected downward from the center of the underside of container 4 and shaft 211 and container shaft 43' are coupled with arm 22 so that both shafts 211 and 43 and arm 22 can be rotated.

If the container driving means is constructed as described above, container 4 may be moved in a linear direction only by arm 22 in some cases when motor 7 is driven. To avoid this linear movement, said driving means can be constructed as shown in FIG. 15.

In other words, guide shaft 44 can be projected from the underside of container 4 and annular groove 231 is provided at base 23 located below container 4 so that said guide shaft 44 slides in this groove. If guide shaft 44 is provided at a position different from a position for shaft 43 to be connected to the arm, self-rotation of container 4 controlled and therefore said mechanism can serve as the self-rotation control means.

Since the mixer according to the present invention is devised so that the container is rotated along a circular orbit during agitation and its self-rotation is controlled, the rotary agitating blade passes through positions relatively near the internal wall of the container. Accordingly, when this mixer is employed, the flow of the material caused by the centrifugal force of the rotary agitating blade becomes complex such as, for example, a turbulence and the rotary agitating blade agitates the material near the internal wall of the container in sequence. Accordingly, the pulverizing and agitating effect is excellent and a material of high viscosity or of a large specific gravity can be easily pulverized and agitated.

The following explains in detail the effects described above.

When the mixer according to the present invention is employed, the container rotates along a circular orbit while self-rotation is controlled, an eddy flow of the material is striken against the internal wall of the container due to agitation and is repelled to the center of the container and thus the material is always returned to the rotary agitating blade without sticking to the internal wall of the container. Accordingly, pulverizing and agitating effects are greatly improved.

Since the mixer according to the present invention is designed so that the force to collect the material to the center of the container when the rotating speed of the container is high, the mixer can efficiently agitate a high viscosity material.

Furthermore, if the rotating direction of the container is reversed to the rotating direction of the rotary agitating blade, the pulverizing and agitating effects can be improved greatly.

As described above, the mixer according to the present invention is highly advantageous in various points.

What is claimed is:

1. A mixer comprised of a. a driving means for a drive shaft;

b. a rotary agitating blade which is coupled to said drive shaft and rotates at a fixed position in a space;

c. a cylindrical container which is open upward and internally provided with said rotary agitating blade extended from the above;

d. a container driving means which holds said container for rotation and rotates the container along a circular orbit; and,

e. a self-rotation control means which controls selfrotation .of said container,

wherein said container is rotated in a circular orbit by said container driving means without causing said rotary agitating blade to contact the internal wall of the container while self-rotation of said container is controlled by said self-rotation control means when said rotary agitating blade rotates, and wherein said self rotation control means is formed with a fixed annular frame having a larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the bottom of said container, and when said container is rotated along a circular orbit, the container is rotated while its outer periphery is forced to contact the inner surface of said frame and the container self-rotates in the reverse direction to the circular movement of the container, thereby said container does not slide along said frame.

2. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of gear teeth are continuously formed at the inner periphery of said frame in the circumferential direction and a plurality of mating gear teeth which engage with said gear teeth are continuously provided on the outer periphery of said container, thereby the gear teeth operate to control self-rotation of said container while these gear teeth engage each other when the container is rotated along a circular orbit.

3. A mixer according claim 1, wherein the internal surface of said frame is formed with a lining made of a material having a large friction coefficient and said container is arranged so that it does not slip in reference to said frame.

4. A mixer according to claim 3, wherein said lining material is made of rubber.

5. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein said selfrotation control means is comprised of an annular contacting part which is projected from the underside of said container and is arranged almost coaxially' with said container and a mating contacting part which is arranged inside said contacting part so that the latter contacting part together with the former contacting part form a dual ring and, when said container is rotated,

said contacting part is rotated around said mating contacting part so that the internal periphery of the contacting part is forced to contact the external periphery of the mating contacting part, and, said container selfrotates in the same direction as rotation of the container along the circular orbit without slipping on said frame.

6. A mixer according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of gear teeth are provided continuously in the circumferential direction at the internal periphery of said contacting part, a plurality of mating gear teeth are continuously provided in the circumferential direction at the external periphery of said mating contacting part and said container is rotated with engagement of these gear teeth.

7. A mixer according to claim 5, wherein a lining made of a material having a large friction coefficient is attached to at least one of the internal periphery of said contacting part and the external periphery of said mating contacting part and part of the internal periphery of said contacting part is forced to contact at all times the external periphery of said mating contacting part when said container is rotated along a circular orbit.

8. A mixer according to claim 7, wherein said lining is made of rubber. 

1. A mixer comprised of a. a driving means for a drive shaft; b. a rotary agitating blade which is coupled to said drive shaft and rotates at a fixed position In a space; c. a cylindrical container which is open upward and internally provided with said rotary agitating blade extended from the above; d. a container driving means which holds said container for rotation and rotates the container along a circular orbit; and, e. a self-rotation control means which controls self-rotation of said container, wherein said container is rotated in a circular orbit by said container driving means without causing said rotary agitating blade to contact the internal wall of the container while selfrotation of said container is controlled by said self-rotation control means when said rotary agitating blade rotates, and wherein said self rotation control means is formed with a fixed annular frame having a larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the bottom of said container, and when said container is rotated along a circular orbit, the container is rotated while its outer periphery is forced to contact the inner surface of said frame and the container self-rotates in the reverse direction to the circular movement of the container, thereby said container does not slide along said frame.
 2. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of gear teeth are continuously formed at the inner periphery of said frame in the circumferential direction and a plurality of mating gear teeth which engage with said gear teeth are continuously provided on the outer periphery of said container, thereby the gear teeth operate to control self-rotation of said container while these gear teeth engage each other when the container is rotated along a circular orbit.
 3. A mixer according claim 1, wherein the internal surface of said frame is formed with a lining made of a material having a large friction coefficient and said container is arranged so that it does not slip in reference to said frame.
 4. A mixer according to claim 3, wherein said lining material is made of rubber.
 5. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein said self-rotation control means is comprised of an annular contacting part which is projected from the underside of said container and is arranged almost coaxially with said container and a mating contacting part which is arranged inside said contacting part so that the latter contacting part together with the former contacting part form a dual ring and, when said container is rotated, said contacting part is rotated around said mating contacting part so that the internal periphery of the contacting part is forced to contact the external periphery of the mating contacting part, and, said container self-rotates in the same direction as rotation of the container along the circular orbit without slipping on said frame.
 6. A mixer according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of gear teeth are provided continuously in the circumferential direction at the internal periphery of said contacting part, a plurality of mating gear teeth are continuously provided in the circumferential direction at the external periphery of said mating contacting part and said container is rotated with engagement of these gear teeth.
 7. A mixer according to claim 5, wherein a lining made of a material having a large friction coefficient is attached to at least one of the internal periphery of said contacting part and the external periphery of said mating contacting part and part of the internal periphery of said contacting part is forced to contact at all times the external periphery of said mating contacting part when said container is rotated along a circular orbit.
 8. A mixer according to claim 7, wherein said lining is made of rubber. 